“One of Our Favorite Singers, and Certainly One of the Best Jazz Acts in California.”
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“One of our favorite singers, and certainly one of the best jazz acts in California.” — ARNALDO DESOUTIERO // JAZZ STATION // JAZZ, BOSSA & BEYOND, 2 0 1 5 About Gina Saputo is one of LA's most in demand Jazz singers. A native of Springfield, Oregon, Gina was born to sing and raised in a home full of music. She started training classically at the age of 8 in the Oregon Children’s Choir and had her first paying gig at the age of 11. By the age of 15 she was putting together her own groups and regularly singing in jazz clubs, often waiting outside during breaks because she was underage. She went on to study Jazz on scholarship at the University of Southern California and graduate studies at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute, now known as the Herbie Hancock Institute. Now she is an international jazz performer, College instructor, recording artist, session singer, model, actress and three time published author. She is currently finishing her 4th book, Vocal Technique for Songwriters, and teaching full time in the Bachelors Department at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. On October 19th, 2019, Gina will release her latest record, Duetto, on Swingfest Records. She is also featured on Jeff Goldblum's newest record which comes out November 1st on Decca Records. Her appearance on the album was announced on Billboard and Rolling Stone Magazine, amongst others. Gina has performed with Jeff Goldblum for 7 years as a special guest. Her performances with Jeff and his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, include numerous performances at The Rockwell in Los Feliz, The Arroyo Seco Festival, Campbell Hall, The Wallis, 24 hours of reality with Al Gore, and 2 nights at The Blue Note Hawaii. Gina has performed all over the world, including for the State Department in Washington, D.C., and toured Viet Nam with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Nnenna Freelon. Gina enjoyed 4 tours in Japan, her last with Grammy nominated pianist Bill Cunliffe. She has performed headlining tours in South Korea 5 times, in Oregon with pianist Benny Green, at Club Nokia at LA Live in Downtown LA, Savannah Jazz Festival with Doc Handy, The Discovery Series in Jacksonville, Florida, with John Lumpkin and the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival, She recently taught in Beijing, China, for a music camp and continues to teach clinics as a guest speaker and adjudicate jazz festivals all over the US. Her first commercial realeased CD came out in 2004 with rave reviews, “Gina Saputo” featured Gerald Clayton, and climbed to #3 on Japan’s Swing Journal charts. Her 2nd CD was promotional release only "Live at the Omni", featured the legendary Plas Johnson on Saxophone. A prize possession amongst few. Her upcoming release is sure to be met with the same success. She won First Place at the Big Stage Vocal Competition and was the vocalist for Orange County Music Awards winning band for Best Jazz in Orange County, 2009, 2010, and nominated with her own band in 2013 and 2014. She has lived in Los Angeles since moving for college and has become a regular at LA's top jazz clubs, recording sessions and on the LA scene. Recently, Gina was featured performing and appearing in “The last Tycoon” for Amazon through Sony Pictures, where her scene and song were featured on Entertainment weekly’s sneak peak. She has been featured on Good Day LA with Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra, B.Glen of OC beauty Magazine featurette, Entertainment Weekly Sneak Peak and a recent interview and performance on LA Talk Radio and has graced the cover of the LA Jazz Scene Newspaper. Gina recently became the featured vocalist for Disneyland's longest running Swing Orchestra, who have performed at the Royal Swing Ball in Disneyland Park for over 35 years. She also sings at Disney's exclusive Club 33 and The Jazz Kitchen. Gina can be seen performing regularly with actor and pianist Jeff Goldblum and his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, George Kahn’s Jazz and Blues Revue, Paul Young Quintet, Slide Fx Trombone Tentet, Rusty Stiers Band, Tenth and California, Swingtown, Side Street Strutters and her own groups. For more information, photos, videos please visit... www.ginasaputo.com Teaching Experience Gina is full time faculty in the Bachelors Degree and Vocal departments. She teaches varying courses, open counseling hours and private lessons each quarter. Gina has written 3 Vocal Technique books for the Musicians Institute curriculum. Current Courses: ● Private Lessons For Bachelors & Vocal Students ● Vocal Performance 330, 430 Bachelors ● Vocal Technique 021, 022, 110 And 210 (Levels 1-4) All Degrees ● Vocal Technique for Songwriters ● Sight Singing 012, 022, 120, 220 (Levels 1-4) All Degrees ● Accent Reduction Outside Courses and Clinics: Fullerton College Jazz Festival- Adjudicator, Fullerton, CA. 2016, 2018, 2019 Reno Jazz Festival- Adjudicator & Clinician, Reno, Nevada. 2018, 2020 Santa Monica College- Clinician, Santa Monica, CA. 2019 Music-ing Camp- Clinician, writer, performer, Beijing, China. 2018 Soul And Song Retreat- Guest Clinician, Nashville, TN. 2011 Encore Music Academy- Performance Master Class, La Mirada, CA. 2011 Bethesda Christian University- Pop Vocal Professor, Santa Ana, CA. 2009 Gwangju University- Gwangju, South Korea. Guest Professor 2008 Los Angeles Music Academy- Los Angeles, CA. Sub 2008 McKinley Elementary- Music Education And Conducting, Santa Monica, CA 2006-2007 Vietnam Tour- Elementary And College Level Clinics, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. 2005 Vietnam Tour- Elementary And College Level Clinics, Hanoi, Vietnam. 2005 Washington Prep High School, Monk Institute- South Los Angeles, CA. 2005 JazzReach, Elementary To High School, - Los Angeles, CA. 1999-2003 Private Voice Teaching Experience: Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA. 2013- Present Personal Home Studio And Facetime Lessons, Montrose, CA. 2014-Present Gina Saputo Vocal Studio, Long Beach, CA. 2011-2014 Selected Students Homes And Personal Home Studios, CA. 2002-Present Rockstars Music Academy- Huntington Beach, CA. 2009-2012 Encore School Of Music- La Mirada, CA. 2008- 2010 Bethesda Christian University- Santa Ana, CA. 2009 Silverlake Conservatory- Silverlake, CA. Regular Sub 2007-2009 Gwangju University- Gwangju, South Korea. Guest Professor 2008 Grayson’s Tune Town- Montrose, CA. Regular Sub 2005-2008 Washington Prep High School, Thelonious Monk Institute- South Los Angeles, CA. 2005 Private Piano/Guitar Teaching Experience: Student Homes and Personal Home Studios, CA. 2002-Present Silverlake Conservatory- Silverlake, CA. Regular Sub 2007-2009 Grayson’s Tune Town- Montrose, CA. Regular Sub 2005-2008 Choral Conducting Experience: Trinity Baptist Choir, Adult, Trinity Baptist Church- Santa Monica, CA. Occasional Sub 2008- 2011 Agape Choir, High School Level, Rivers Community Church- Agoura, CA. 2008 McKinley Elementary, Music Education and Conducting- Santa Monica, CA. 2006-2007 The Melodairs- Springfield High School- Springfield, OR. Student Director 1997-1999 Concert Chorale- Springfield High School- Springfield, OR. Student Director 1997-1999 Kaleidoscope- Springfield High School- Springfield, OR. Student Director 1997-1999 Education University of Southern California, Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, voice. 2003 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, fall semester 2005 Studying under Terri Lyn Carrington, Herbie Hancock, Carmen Lundy, Wayne Shorter, Stefon Harris, Wallace Roney, Hal Crook, and Ron Carter. Private Vocal Studies with Carmen Lundy, Tierney Sutton, Carmen Bradford, Ariel, Nnenna Freelon, Stacy Swartout, Glenn Carlos and Jennifer Barnes-Shelton. Private jazz piano with Alan Pasqua, Anne Farnsworth, and David Arnay. Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Jazz Academy, Aspen, Colorado. 2003 Conducting lessons with Stacy Swartout Awards Best Jazz in Orange County- Nominee, Gina Saputo, Orange County Music Awards 2014, 2013 Best Jazz in Orange County- Winner as Band Member of THSB, Orange County Music Awards, 2009, 2010 First Place, Big Stage Vocal Competition, 2009 National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, jazz vocal awardee 1999 SHO Performing Arts Awardee, 1998 Gina regularly gives Television/radio/Magazine and newspaper interviews, and performances regularly across the US. and internationally including headlining performances and clinics in Washington D.C., Colorado, Oregon, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, California, Japan, Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Viet nam. Headlining Highlights… Blue Note Hawaii with Jeff Goldblum, 2 nights 2019 24 hours of Reality with Jeff Goldblum, 2018 Festival of the Arts, Laguna, CA, (annually) 2010- present Oxnard Performing Arts Center with George Kahn Jazz and Blues Revue, 2017 Arroyo Seco Music Festival, Pasadena, California with Jeff Goldblum, 2017 Jazz Discovery Series, Jacksonville, Florida. 2015 The Wallis with Jeff Goldblum, 2015 Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art, 3 performances 2014-2015 Steamers Jazz Club, Fullerton, CA. (monthly) 2001-2015 The Hip Kitty (monthly) 2008- 2014 Seoul and Busan Tour with Yoon Seung Cho, South Korea 2013 Tribute to Billie Holiday, Torrance Cultural Arts, Torrance, CA 2013 Savannah Jazz Festival, Savanna, GA 2012 October Jazz in Seoul, Seoul, Korea 2012 First & Hope Supper Club Downtown LA, CA.(monthly)2008- 2012 Ambrosia Supper Club (weekly) CA. 2008-2010 Club Nokia at LALive with Gina Saputo’s Electronic Jazz Orchestra, CA. 2009 Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival, UAE. 2009 The Wildish Theatre with Benny Green, Springfield, OR. 2008 Disney Hall for Los Angeles Philharmonic Society, 2008 Japan Tour (10